Railway spike-lock.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

E. G. WINTERS. RAILWAY SPIKE LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

$1 mvantoz lmm v Hineaaaa UNITE STATES Patented August 30, 1804.

ELHANAN O. WVINTERS, OF ROCKFALIJS, ILLINOIS.

v RAILWAY SPIKE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,924, dated August 30, 1904..

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,242. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELHANAN C. WINTERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockfalls, in the county of IVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Spike-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference-to spike-locks for railways, and furnishes a simple and improved means for securing the rail, spike, and the locking device itself rigidly together.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows two of my devices in position on the track, one thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device without the spike in position therein. Fig. 3 shows my device in position with the spike in place before the same is locked. Figs. 4 and 5 show modified forms of my device whereby its efficiency is increased. Figs. 6 and 7 show further modified forms illustrating difierent methods of locking the spike. I

Similar ordinals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates the usual rail in cross-section, and 2 one of the ties on which it is seated.

3 is the spike, extending downwardly into the tie through an arch-plate 4, which is pro vided with an opening 5, corresponding in shape to the spike in cross-section thereof, to permit the passage of such spike. Extending from each side of the arch-plate 4 and integral therewith is a flat plate 6, adapted to be forced beneath the rail on the upper face of the tie. Extending from the upper part of the arch 4 in the same direction as the plate plates 6 is a clench-plate 7, adapted to be bent rearwardly over the head of the spike. In

securing the device in place the plates 6 are first forced beneath the rail until the arch 4 abuts the edge of the flange, the clench-plate 7 at this time being in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spike is then driven down through the opening 5 into the tie and the plate 7 bent over the head of the spike.

It will be seen that in this'position the parts are rigidly secured to one another. The weight of the rail on the plates 6 operates. to hold such plates in contact with the tie. The rail is in turn held down by the spike and the spike locked from upward movement by the clenchplate. The position of the spike in the arch-plate 4 also prevents any movement ofthe device away from the rail. By reason of the openingo corresponding to the square shape of the spike there is no possibility of the spike turning or twisting in the tie.

In Fig. 4 is shown a plate 7 extending rearwardly from the arch 4 and adapted to be bent downwardly into the tie in rear of the lock. The end of the plate 8 may be formed with a straight edge or may be provided with teeth 9, as shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement is specially designed to further support the spike in preventing a lateral movement or spreading of the rails.

Fig. 6 illustrates a form of my device wherein the clench-plate 7 is formed on the outer end of the arch and bent inwardly over -the head of the spike, and in Fig. 7 is shown still another form, wherein the clench-plate is made considerably longer, so as to be bent over the head of the spike and forced into the tie in rear of the lock, thus doing away with the separate plate 8. The height of the arch 4 above the plates 6 should be about the same as the thickness of that part of the flange of the rail which is in contact with such arch,so that the clench-plate will be in close contact with the upper face of the flange, as shown in the several figures. In Fig. 5 the plates 6 are shown with perforations in their outer corners for the use of bolts or screws; but I do not deem the use thereof at all necessary.

As hereinbefore referred to and as shown in the drawings, the construction of my device is such as to permit its being stamped and formed of sheet metal in one operation, rendering the manufacture thereof simple and inexpensive; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such construction. The part 4 can be formed in a solid piece by malleable and other process, with the various plates I of said body portion, and adapted to be forced projecting therefrom, as hereinbefore set i downwardly into contact with the tie; subforth.

lt will be seen that the lock is complete in itself and requires no auxiliary means for securing it to the tie unless it is thought desirable to use such additional means, as has been hereinbefore suggested.

W hat 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. A railway spike-lock, comprising a central body portion, perforated to permit the passage of the spike into the tie; a pair of plates, integral with the base of said body portion, and adapted to be forced beneath the rail; and a clench-plate, projecting from the top part of said body portion, and capable of being bent over the head of the spike, sul stantially as shown.

2. A railway spike-lock, comprising a cen tral body portion, perforated to permit the passage of the spike; a pair of plates, integral with the base of such body portion,-and adapted to be forced beneath the rail; a clenchplate, projecting forwardly from the top part of such body portion, capable of being bent over the head of the spike, and a rearwardlyextending plate, integral with the upper part stantially as shown and described.

3. In a railway spike-lock, the combination of the arch-plate 4:, provided with the open. ing 5; the plates 6, integral with the base of said arch-plate; the clench-plate 7, integral with the top of said arch-plate, and project-- ing forwardly therefrom; and the plate 8, extending rearwardly from the top part of said arch-plate, and provided with the teeth 9, substantially as set forth.

4. A railway spike-lock, comprising a central body portion, perforated to permit the passage of the spike; a pair of plates, integral with the base of said body portion, capable of being forced beneath the rail; and a elench-plate, projecting from the top part of said body portion, adapted to be bent over the head of the spike, and forced into the tie in rear thereof, substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELHANAN C. WlNlTERS.

WVitnesses:

F. A. GOULD, I. L; WEAVER 

